Playing Heroes
dark heroSegu and Nezu continued through the orphanage building closely followed by the bodyguard.
They finally arrived at the hidden room, after passing through an old door wooden door blocking the way.
The room was not very big, you could cross it in 7 big steps, but you could see it was probably cleaner than most of the orphanage buildings, almost as if everyone lived there. His 4 walls were full of old superhero posters, newspaper clippings, or anything related to heroes or heroic deeds both fictional and stories of real life, if you think the walls were the most impressive you are wrong, the most remarkable was a complete glass roof that illuminated the whole room and let you see the sky in 360 degrees.
After inspecting the room and reading some newspaper clippings Segu said “Nice place, especially the roof, but what’s with all this hero stuff, and if this is yours why are there things here from when you were 3 years old? There is no way you knew how to read at that age. Also, why is this so hidden, I guess that even some of the other kids don’t know this exists”
“Hey slow down with the questions, first of all, welcome to my place, besides ‘Mama’ you are the first person entering here,” said Nezu, “Now answering your questions, yes this is all mine, and yes, of course, I didn’t know how to read but we’ll I have this thing” pouting at his mouth continuing “before I could read every day I picked the journal and asked to ‘Mama’ or other people if there was anything about heroic deeds on the journal and if there was to give it to me when they no longer wanted the journal”
Nezu paused to look at Segu’s expression to see if there was something different, like he expected she was with an embarrassed look,’ I’m guessing both of us are way more intelligent than anyone our age, so you are embarrassed because you didn’t think why would I have clippings so old you never believed that I could be intelligent as you, I will keep giving my explanation and embarrassing you a lot more, it’s kinda fun teasing you thought Nezu.
While giving a mischievous look to Segu, he continued his explanation “As you have already noticed by that embarrassed look of yours, I wanted the newspapers for when I learned to read I could read them all”
Segu became even redder with embarrassment and was happily surprised to learn that, just like her, Nezu was very intelligent for his age.
“But the heroes stuff sorry, that one I can’t answer not even I know the answer, I only know that since I can think I felt a connection to helping people, and that’s what heroes are for.”, Nezu once more looked to Segu eyes before proceeding “and finally this is hidden because like you the other child are afraid of me, I don’t know why and they are also don’t know why. So to prevent disturbing them and since I couldn’t play with them I created my world away from them in this room I call it the ‘hero’s lair’ but now that you are here let’s change it to ‘heroes lair’ "
Image 1 - Heroes Lair
This time Segu was surprised knowing he was exactly like her. She was so happy after so much time searching for a playmate and when she finally found one he was so similar to her like they were predestined to meet.
Outside the room the bodyguard leaning on the wall listening to the conversation, enquiring if he was dreaming ‘Is this really a conversation that 2 seven years olds should be having?, damn when I was their age all I wanted to know was when it was time to eat or when could I go to play, when they get to my current age I will be like a grain of dust next to them, but I’m so happy for young miss, for this day to finally arrive, I need to inform Boss about the level this two ‘monster genius’ can talk’ the bodyguard picked his cellphone from the pocket and texted his Boss, briefly after there was a reply “I’m very busy Steve, but that’s good news just keep watching and keep her safe, I leave everything to you.”
Meanwhile, Nezu went to the corner of a room to grab an old wooden box dragging it to the center of the room where Segu was waiting. Nezu opened the box and inside there were a lot of second-hand costumes of heroes and villains, some heroes action figures and some old plush, Segu saw everything inside and although she couldn’t guess what the plushes were for she decided not to ask, getting embarrassed 1 time per day was enough to her, she didn’t want this day to become a battle of was smarter.
“This is pretty much all my belongings, the action figures are my birthday and Christmas presents, thank you by the way, from what ‘Mama’ said it was your family that paid for some of my presents. And the costumes are handed down by the community from previous Halloweens and Carnivals”
At this time what Segu didn’t want to happen, well… happened again she got embarrassed for him tanking her father, and she also felt proud for having such a good dad. “And the plush are some old things that people that left this place forgot behind or didn’t take with them”
“So you wanna be the hero or the villain?”
“Since I’m always a good girl, let me be the bad guy this time, hm… I mean the bad girl”
“Ok, then take this costume and choose a plush to be your hostage”
Segu facepalmed herself internally for not making the connection between plush’s and civilians.
“Are you ready Segu?”
“Yes, let’s start,” said Segu excitedly.
“Sir, please put the gun down release the hostage, and let’s talk”. Segu mockingly replied while imitating a gun with her fingers “Haha, and why would I do that, first give me the 1 million candies?”
“Candies, really?!? Are you a kid?”
“Well… yes and I’m hungry I still haven’t eaten anything since I am here,” said Segu almost laughing out loud.
“Hm.. let’s hurry this game and eat something then”.
“Hm. Back to the play. I will need more time to get 1 million. Please sir release the hostage”
“The max I can do is stop pointing the hostage the gun,” said Segu while withdrawing the imaginary gun and grabbing non-existent ropes to restrain the hostage”
“Hey Segu what we do now?”
“You ask me? The game is yours,” replied Segu smirking finally outsmarting Nezu.
“Well let’s eat first and discuss this while eating,” said Segu while going in the door direction “Hey Uncle Steve can you get us some food? Also, I was kidding while playing but get some candy for us and the rest of the kids” Steve, the bodyguard grabbed once again the cellphone and made a quick call to get what Miss asked, he may be her bodyguard but he’s also a kind of nanny to her, so it’s also his job to comply with her requests, of course if it’s normal requests like food or a small amount of money. Her father doesn’t want her to be a spoiled brat so there is a limit to what she can ask.
“It’s on the way Segu”.
“Uncle Steve?” asked Nezu while giving an inquisitive look to Segu.
“He is not my uncle, but has been with me since I can remember, and trust him as much as my parents, so I call him uncle it’s similar to how you call Miss Sarah ‘Mama’.
“Ow.. nice, everyone in this world should have their own ‘Mama’ a person that can protect and love them from the bottom of their heart”.
“Yes you are right, now back to our problem one versus one, the hero doesn’t have a weapon, and the villain has, also the hostage is already restrained, what can we do? If this was a movie the hero would make some kind of super move and knock out the villain, but this is not a movie”.
“Hm..let me think for a while”, Nezu made dozens of simulations in his head where he tried to knock out the villain or get his gun unfortunately almost all failed and in the ones where the hostage was saved the hero died.
“Well I hate to say this but it all depends on who gets back up first to solve this situation. so the answer is simple the hero needs help from the beginning or an absolute difference in power between him and the villain”.
“I knew you would reach the same conclusion as me Nezu”.
“Now we need a sidekick, and I know exactly what to do,” said Segu with a slick smile.
“Segu the food it’s here take it” informed Steve.
“Uncle come inside and eat with us”
“If you insist, but I still need to do my job,” said Steve while entering but leaving the door open so he could see if someone approached from the fairway.
“Hey, kid you are interesting, as much as miss”.
“Hm.. thank you I guess,” said Nezu in an unsure way.
Nothing more was said while they ate, for Nezu this was the best food he had ever tasted.
Although he couldn’t express his emotions his eyes were sparkling with joy. “Well now that we have eaten, let’s resume playing,” said Segu while rapidly approaching Steve “You will be the villain Uncle Steve” mockingly said Segu
“What? But my job? Ah… you know you are my Achilles heel and you use it against me, just give me a minute then”, Steve resigned to his fate, calling the 2 accompanying bodyguards and placing them near the door.
“Ok miss, we can ‘play’”, replied Steve while thinking if the other mansion bodyguards knew of this they would mock him for months.
“Nezu I will be a sidekick”
“Ok but I’m not used to working in a team”
“Uncle pick that rabbit, I mean that hostage, and point a weapon at him”
“Oh god… ok”, Steve unwillingly picked up the plush and pointed a finger gun.
“Sir please stop pointing the weapon at the hostage and let’s talk”.
“Give me my money first,” said Steve while watching Segu slowly approaching from the sides.
“The money it’s on the way but I will only give it to you if you put the gun down”
Like Segu, Steve withdrew the fake gun and restrained the hostage.
“Thank you sir”, said Nezu while simulating talking with a device in his ear whispering to Segu " Do it now” Of course, it was not a real whisper and Steve could hear the instruction, and when Segu tried to flank him he easily touched her in the head symbolizing the failure of the ‘mission’.
“Let’s swap Segu”
‘it will be the same’ thought Steve. The play restarted, this time Steve watched Nezu slowly approaching him. Until the part where Segu ‘whispers’ Do it now.
At this moment something Steve couldn’t believe was happening in front of his eyes, or in his case not in front of his eyes because he couldn’t locate Nezu, he felt goosebumps feeling like the prey of a predator, suddenly a small hand touched his back, he had lost.
“What? This is a play but is also my job I need to be able to track people, and I lost to a kid??, Just how?!?”
“I can’t believe this worked, I had a crazy idea of following your eyes to determine where was your death angle spot in real-time, so when Segu said to do it, I just stayed in that angle and kept approaching and adjusting until I reached you”.
“Kid you surprised me again, I’m relieved that you look to be a good person otherwise I would be afraid that you would give an excellent burglar or worse an elite assassin”
“I was only able to do it because you remained still, that way I think I could do it 9 in 10 times, but if you moved I think I would fail every time”
“Let’s test it. I will go to the center of the room and close my eyes for 3 seconds you have that time to disappear but not to approach me, after that, I will open my eyes and you have to touch me without me seeing you”
“Sounds fun, Segu be the judge”.
“Ok Nezu”
And like Segu previously said 10 times he was able to touch Steve 9 times.
“Hey kid, let’s test with me moving”
This time Segu lost and lost again but what made Steve was that 1 time in 15 he was able to touch him ‘What a scary perception, reflexes, and calculations this kid has, let’s hope this kid doesn’t stray from his current path. I don’t want to fight him on a battlefield in the future, in a few years it would not be a fight but a one-side slaughter’ thought Steve.
“Segu, it’s getting late time to go”, said Steve looking at her, “Hey Segu are you hearing me?” asked Steve loudly.
“Ah..sorry Uncle Steve I was distracted with this game between Nezu and you. It left me speechless, let’s go then”
“Nezu, I’m going back home, see you tomorrow today was an eye-opening and surprising day for me”, said Nezu while bidding Segu goodbye with her hand.
“Cya Segu, I will wait for you here tomorrow”. said Nezu bidding farewell to Segu.
“Goodbye kid, if I have a chance I will test you more tomorrow”.
“Ok u-n-c-l-e Steve, cya tomorrow”. said Nezu childishly.
“You…. " Said Steve while going away he was not really mad with Nezu’s reply, just surprised.
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